Sister Frances Carr, one of just three surviving members of a nearly extinct religious society called the Shakers, has died aged 89.

Carr died Monday at her home in the last Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake in Maine, after a brief battle with cancer, said the group.

Her death leaves just two Shakers Brother Arnold Hadd and Sister June Carpenter, who oversee an 1,800-acre property with 17 historic structures.

'The end came swiftly and with dignity surrounded by the community and her nieces. We ask your prayers for her soul,' the Shakers said.

Sister Frances Carr, (left) one of the last remaining members of a nearly extinct religious society called the Shakers, has died. She was 89

The Shakers, formally known as the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Appearance, settled in 1783 at Sabbathday Lake, one of more than a dozen such communities established in the New World after the Christian society fled persecution in England.

The communities practiced equality of the sexes, pacifism, communal ownership of property and celibacy.

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Shakers were established in 18th England. The movement then came to the U.S in 1774 under Mother Ann Lee.

The group earned the derisive moniker 'shaking Quakers' for their charismatic dance. The style of worship changed long ago, but the Shakers name stuck.

The movement grew quickly in America and by 1840, there were 6,000 believers.

Carr died Monday at her home in the last Shaker community at Sabbathday Lake (pictured) in Maine, after a brief battle with cancer, said the group

The Sabbathday Lake Shakers, which is home to the biggest Shaker museum in the country, was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974

Shakers are credited with a number of inventions, including the flat-bottom broom, spring-loaded clothespin and circular saw.

They were also ahead of their time when it came to women's rights. The Shakers believed that men and women were equal, and at each level women and men shared authority.

The Shaker communities were led by two Elders and two Eldresses who would oversee their flock.

Shakers, who preferred to be self-sufficient, were also renowned for their furniture. The Shaker style was classic in style, durable, and functional. It remains a popular style to this day - even though it is set to outlive the movement that started it.

Numbers have been on the decline for more than a hundred years.

The main reason is that a core belief of the Shakers is that members should stay celibate.

The challenging demand on members deterred many from joining the religion, and also compelled many to leave the church. Anyone turning 21 who decided to leave the church to get married would do so with a blessing, money and a horse.

A drawing of members of the United Society of Believers in Christ's Second Coming, or Shakers, performing their tremulous dance at a religious meeting in Mount Lebanon, USA on 14th May 1870

The group earned the derisive moniker 'shaking Quakers' for their charismatic dance. The style of worship changed long ago, but the Shakers name stuck

During the 18th and 19th centuries, Shakers were one of the main groups accepting orphans - their main source of new members.

But as the government and more organizations began accepting orphaned children, the numbers of members dwindled.

In 1957, after 'months of prayer,' Eldresses Gertrude, Emma, and Ida, the leaders of the United Society of Believers and members of Canterbury Shaker Village, voted to close the Shaker Covenant.

All new members are required to sign the document to become a Shaker. Without it, membership was closed forever.

Carr had arrived at her Shaker community as a 10-year-old after she was orphaned. Despite the lack of numbers, Carr bristled at news reports that often described those in the village as the 'last' Shakers. She remained hopeful that the group would grow.

Carr's death was announced on the Sabbathday Like Shaker Village website.

Despite their old-fashioned farm life, the Sabbathday Lake Shakers, which is home to the biggest Shaker museum in the country, don't eschew modern technology. They have computers, internet access and a website.

The entire property was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1974. After the final two Shakers die, the property will be kept as a museum and development will be prohibited.